Ancient meteorite grains show strong magnetism shaped early solar system
Researchers at MIT report that ancient grains in an Antarctic meteorite reveal powerful magnetism existed during the first 200,000 years of the solar system.
Magnetic fields aided gravity
Scientists studied microscopic calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions found inside a rock discovered in Antarctica in 2008. These grains formed when the solar nebula collapsed into a disk about 4.6 billion years ago. The findings indicate that magnetism worked alongside gravity to help form the sun and planets.
Oldest material from start
The calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions represent the oldest known material from the solar system's initial 200,000 years. Evidence of magnetic fields was preserved within these specific grains during that early period. This research challenges the view that gravity alone drove the transformation of the gas cloud.
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